Sexual satisfaction mediates the effects of the quality of dyadic sexual communication on the degree of perceived sexual desire discrepancy

Abstract: Difficulties related to sexual desire discrepancy are among the most common complaints
in people seeking help in therapy. The aims of the current study were to test a mediation model
using a bootstrapping procedure where the quality of the dyadic sexual communication plays a
key role in increasing or diminishing the degree of perceived sexual desire discrepancy through
sexual satisfaction. An online survey was administered through social media to N = 369 participants
involved in a romantic relationship, measuring the quality of dyadic sexual communication, sexual
satisfaction, the degree of the perceived sexual desire discrepancy, and a series of relevant covariates.
As expected, the mediation model showed that a better quality of dyadic sexual communication is
related to a lower degree of perceived sexual desire discrepancy through increased sexual satisfaction
( beta = -0.17, SE = 0.05, [95% CI = -0.27, -0.07]). The effect held over and above the effect of the
relevant covariates. The theoretical and practical implications of the present study are discussed.